Device for temporarily sealing holes in boats

ABSTRACT

A tube having one end for insertion through a hole in a boat, which end has concentric bags inflatable on the end thereof, and which bags when inflated are pulled over the hole with the water pressure holding the bags in position over the hole; and expandable legs connected to the tube and movable longitudinally to contact the inside of the boat and to hold the inflated bags and tube in sealing position.

United States Patent 1 Etchelecou et al.

[4 1 Oct. 15, 1974 1 DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY SEALING HOLES 1N BOATS [76]Inventors: Robert J. L. Etchelecou, 10311 Julio P1., Lakeside, Calif.92040; John J. Savel, 3144 32nd St., San Diego, Calif. 92104 [22] Filed:Nov. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 419,205

[52] US. Cl, 114/227 [51] Int. Cl 1363b 43/16 Field of Search 114/44,52, 54, 68, 227,

114/228, 229; 9/9; 116/124 R, 124 B, 124 C, DIG. 8, DIG. 9; 244/1 R, 31,33

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2,446,189 8/1948 Oding114/227 2,687,541 8/1954 Bannister 114/54 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 320 l/l896 Great Britain 1 14/227 Primary Examiner-TrygveM. Blix Assistant Examiner-Jesus D. Sotelo Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrownand Martin [5 7 ABSTRACT A tube having one end for insertion through ahole in a boat, which end has concentric bags inflatable on the endthereof, and which bags when inflated are pulled over the hole with thewater pressure holding the bags in position over the hole; andexpandable legs connected to the tube and movable longitudinally tocontact the inside of the boat and to hold the inflated bags and tube insealing position.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY SEALING HOLES INBOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The number of small boats used forpleasure and commerce are constantly on the increase. New boat designshave made the hulls of the boats considerably lighter, as well as morefragile. Further boats are now being used in areas that have rocks, andother articles in the water, that can cause holes to be punched in theside of the boats. Such small boats do not have the bilges pumpingcapabilities, that will cope with water entering through a relativelysmall hole in the hull of the boat, and thus prevent the boat fromrapidly sinking. Thus a small hole knocked in the side of a boat canoftentimes cause the boat to sink and result in loss of life as well asa total loss of a rather expensive boat, including all electronic gearthat is normally on such boats.

Thus it is advantageous to have a device for temporarily sealing holesin boats, which device can be quickly, easily and reliably used and thathas an inflatable end that adjusts to seal holes of many differentsizes, and that has means for holding the sealing device in positionuntil the boat can be returned to safe moorage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment of this invention, atube has a first inflatable gas bag connected to one end, with a secondinflatable gas bag positioned inside of the first gas bag. A gas source,such as a C cartridge, is secured to the tube at preferably the otherend of the tube for passing gas through the tube upon demand andinflating the first and second gas bags. The gas bag end of the tube hasfirst and second valves, that control the gas entering the bags in amanner that both bags are inflated correctly. A retainer housing retainsthe gas bags in the non-inflated condition in a small folded-upcondition with a small diameter that allows the end of the tube andretainer to be inserted through a rather small hole in the boat, withoutdamage to the bags. When the retainer housing is then removed, exposingthe bags, the bags are then inflated in the water outside the boat.

The gas bags when inflated cover the hole and are held in position, bythe outer water pressure, thereby sealing the hole in the boat.

Since the boat can be moved with the sealing device in position, thesealing device is subjected to the movement of water along the side ofthe boat. This could require that a person grasp and pull on the otherside of the tube to retain the gas bags in position. However to avoidthis, expandable legs are positioned along the length of the tube, andexpand outwardly at an acute angle to contact the inside of the hull andhold the gas bags in position over the hole.

The inner and outer gas bags, not only provide increased stability ofthe bags in the compressed condition at the hole that is being sealed,but also provide a safety factor should the outer bag be punctured. Withthe outer bag being punctured, the inner bag then forms the completeseal and additionally if the outer bag is punctured through contact withsharp edges of the boat hull around the hole, then the punctured bagforms a resilient cover over the jagged edges of the hole, allowing theinner bag to maintain the seal and be protected by the outer bag.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved device for temporarily sealing holes in boats.

Other objects and many advantages of this invention will become moreapparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and anexamination of the drawings, where like reference numerals designatelike parts throughout and in which;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the complete sealing device incollapsed condition.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view, but with the inflatable headextended.

FIG. 4 illustrates the initial insertion of the device through a hole inthe boat structure.

FIG. 5 illustrates the fully sealed position of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the device for temporarily sealing holes10 has an elongated tube 12 that extends substantially the entire lengthof the device. Positioned on one end 42 of the tube 12 is a valvecylinder 36 on which an outer inflatable gas bag 20 and an innerinflatable gas bag 22 are secured. The outer bag 20, is held in sealedposition by a retainer ring 40 in a circumferential groove in the outersurface of valve cylinder 36. The end of the bag 22 is held by theresilient retainer 38 in a similar circumferential groove in the valvecylinder 36. A valve opening 24, is covered by a 'flapper check valvemember 26 that is retained in position by a retainer 28. A second valve30, has a ball spring check valve arrangement, wherein ball 32 is biasedby spring 34. Spring 34 requires a slight pressure differential of theinflating gas to open the valve and inflate the bag 22.

An outer cylindrical housing 14, is slidably positioned over the end ofthe tube 12, and rides on cylindrical block 44 secured to the outersurface of the tube end 42. The cylindrical housing 14, encloses thefirst and second air bags in the manner illustrated, and has an end cap16. A longitudinal slot 48 with hook end slots 50, co-act with theretainer pin 52 secured to block 44, for positioning and holding thecylindrical housing 14, in an extended position, whereby the noninflatedgas bags 20 and 22 are enclosed as illustrated in FIG. 2, and in aretracted position whereby the gas bags are exposed, as illustrated inFIG. 3.

Expandable legs 10, are pivotally supported by holder 56 that maybethreadably positioned on threads 58 on the tube 12. The legs 54 expandradially outward to an acute angle in the direction of the gas bags.Wing nut 60 locks the holder 56 in position. The holder 56 can eitherthreadably engage threads 58 or be slidably movable therealong.

A gas source means, such as a known CO cartridge 18, is positioned onthe other end of the tube 12 and is operable in the known manner, suchas by pulling a chain (not shown) or by other known valvingarrangements, to cause the gas to pass from the cartridge 18 and expandthrough tube 12 to inflate the gas bags 20 and 22.

In operation, when a hole is discovered in a boat, such as in the hullof the boat, then the housing 14 end of the device 10 is insertedthrough the hole 102, as in FIG. 4. The housing 10 is then rotatedaround pin 3 4 52, and is pulled toward the other end, to the retractedsaid open end and to be inflated. position exposing the bags 20 and 22.The CO car- 4. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as tridge18 is then punctured alowing gas to pass through claimed in claim 3wherein, the channel 62 of the tube 12 and initially through saidhousing is slidable on said tube, opening 24 of valve 26 into gas bag20. This initial gas 5 means connected to said tube and said housing forrelease, immediately starts the inflating of the bag 20. holding saidhousing in extreme slidable positions, in this inflation, the bag 20expands outwardly into the and said positions including a first positionwherein water, encountering a water pressure resistance. This saidhousing encloses said gas bags, and in a second coupled with the normalpressure involved and reposition wherein said housing is moved to exposequired in expanding any gas bag, causes the gas pressaid gas bags. sureto increase in the valve cylinder 34 to the extent 5. A device fortemporarily sealing holes in boats as that it overcomes the force ofspring 34, allowing bag claimed in claim 1 wherein, 22 to inflate. Thepressure differential between the two pressurized gas means conducts gasthrough said valve openings, and the pressure of the gas entering thevalve means including a first check valve for passsystem, is such thatboth bags are inflated concentriing gas into said first inflatable gasbag, cally with one bag being positioned inside the other bag a secondcheck valve, for passing gas to said second and with a gas spacetherebetween. The other end of inflatable gas bag, the tube 12 is thenpulled, while the bags and 22 are and said second valve being openedonly after a cerbeing inflated, correctly positioning the bags over thetain gas pressure exists in the end of said tube, hole 102. Waterpressure on the outside of the hull 100 20 whereby said first gas bag issubstantially inflated additionally forces the bags 20 and 22 over thehole before gas is inserted into said second gas bag. 102. To assurethat the device will remain in this posi- 6. A device for temporarilysealing holes in boats as tion, the legs 54 are expanded outwardly bymoving the claimed in claim 5 wherein, holder 56 down the tube 12, tothe point where the end said second valve is positioned in the end ofsaid 104 of the legs contact the inside surface of the hull 25 tube,100. Wing nut 60 is then threadably moved downsaid second gas bag,encircles the end of said tube wardly against the holder 56 holding andlocking the and is secured to the outer circumference of said legs inposition, as in FIG. 5. tube,

In this condition, the boat may then be moved to said first valve ispositioned in the side of said tube safer waters or to a mooring wherethe hole in the boat outside said second bag, is repaired under safeconditions. and said first bag is sealably secured to the outercirl-laving described my invention, 1 now claim: cumference of said tubeand enclosing said first l. A device for temporarily sealing holes inboats valve. comprising, 7. A device for temporarily sealing holes inboats as a tube having an end for inserting through a hole in claimed inclaim 1 wherein,

a boat, said pressurized gas means comprises a source of gas said tubeend having a first inflatable gas bag secured positioned at the otherend of said tube.

thereto, 8. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as a secondinflatable gas bag positioned inside of said claimed in claim 1 wherein,

first gas bag and being connected to the end of said 0 said tube hasexpandable legs positioned along the tube, length of said tube, whichlegs pivot outwardly to means for pressurized gas inflating said firstand secan acute angle in the direction of said inflatable 0nd air bags,bags, and said tube end having valve means for selectively saidexpandable legs are movable along the length of passing pressurized gasto each of said first and secsaid tube, ond bags, inflating both of saidbags. and means for holding said legs at a given position 2. A devicefor temporarily sealing holes in boats as along the length of said tubewhereby said legs exclaimed in claim 1 wherein, pand outwardly tocontact the inside of a boat to said tube end has a housing, forenclosing said first hold the inflated bags in the hole of said boatsealand second gas bags in the non-inflated condition. ing said hole.

9. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as 3. A device fortemporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 8 wherein,

claimed in claim 2 wherein, said tube is threaded,

said housing has cylindrical and relatively narrow disaid legs have athreaded member for threadably enameter for inserting through ahole in aboat, and gaging said threads on said tube, having a releasable end thatallows said tube end and said holding means comprises wing nut.

and said inflatable bags to be passed out through

1. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats comprising, a tubehaving an end for inserting through a hole in a boat, said tube endhaving a first inflatable gas bag secured thereto, a second inflatablegas bag positioned inside of said first gas bag and being connected tothe end of said tube, means for pressurized gas inflating said first andsecond air bags, and said tube end having valve means for selectivelypassing pressurized gas to each of said first and second bags, inflatingboth of said bags.
 2. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats asclaimed in claim 1 wherein, said tube end has a housing, for enclosingsaid first and second gas bags in the non-inflated condition.
 3. Adevice for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 2wherein, said housing has cylindrical and relatively narrow diameter forinserting through a hole in a boat, and having a releasable end thatallows said tube end and said inflatable bags to be passed out throughsaid open end and to be inflated.
 4. A device for temporarily sealingholes in boats as claimed in claim 3 wherein, said housing is slidableon said tube, means connected to said tube and said housing for holdingsaid housing in extreme slidable positions, and said positions includinga first position wherein said housing encloses said gas bags, and in asecond position wherein said housing is moved to expose said gas bags.5. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 1wherein, pressurized gas means conducts gas through said valve meansincluding a first check valve for passing gas into said first inflatablegas bag, a second check valve, for passing gas to said second inflatablegas bag, and said second valve being opened only after a certain gaspressure exists in the end of said tube, whereby said first gas bag issubstantially inflated before gas is inserted into said second gas bag.6. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 5wherein, said second valve is positioned in the end of said tube, saidsecond gas bag, encircles the end of said tube and is secured to theouter circumference of said tube, said first valve is positioned in theside of said tube outside said second bag, and said first bag issealably secured to the outer circumference of said tube and enclosingsaid first valve.
 7. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats asclaimed in claim 1 wherein, said pressurized gas means comprises asource of gas positioned at the other end of said tube.
 8. A device fortemporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 1 wherein, saidtube has expandable legs positioned along the length of said tube, whichlegs pivot outwardly to an acute angle in the direction of saidinflatable bags, said exPandable legs are movable along the length ofsaid tube, and means for holding said legs at a given position along thelength of said tube whereby said legs expand outwardly to contact theinside of a boat to hold the inflated bags in the hole of said boatsealing said hole.
 9. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats asclaimed in claim 8 wherein, said tube is threaded, said legs have athreaded member for threadably engaging said threads on said tube, andsaid holding means comprises wing nut.